Spray gun for use with a disposable container



June 9, 1964 M. H. DOCKEN 3,136,486

SPRAY GUN FOR USE WITH A DISPOSABLE CONTAINER Filed June 21, 1962 INVENTOR. MEL/0R0 H DOCKE-N United States Patent 3,136,486 SPRAY GUN FOR USE WlTH A DISPOSABLE CQNTAINER Meiford H. Doclren, 6448 Glenwood Ave., Minneapolis 27, Minn. Filed June 21, 1962, Ser. No. 204,103 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-346) This invention relates generally to spray guns, and pertains more particularly to a spray gun that will find especial utility in touch-up painting and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a spray gun capable of having a disposable fibrous container, such as an ordinary paper beverage cup, releasably attached thereto. In this way, the paint, when this is the liquid to be sprayed, can be placed in the cup and the cup can be thrown away after it has served its purpose, thereby obviating the need for cleaning the container. Because paper cups are quite small, as well as being readily disposable, the nivention will be particularly useful for touching up painted surfaces, especially automobile bodies where the owner may decide to do the job himself or Where the body shop painter may have to switch continually from one color to another.

Consequently, the invention has for a general aim the saving of material, as well as time, for only a small quantity of paint or other liquid need be poured into a container of the envisaged type.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of one spray gun exemplifying my invention showing a disposable container releasably attached thereto, the view being taken generally in the direction of line 1--1 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view taken from the left in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG- URES 1 and 2, the solid line position of the resilient clip illustrating its disengaged condition and the dotted line position its engaged condition with the container;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified spray gun constructed in accordance with the general teachings of the invention, the view being taken in the direction of line 44 of FIGURE 5 but adding thereto the disposable container; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the spray gun illustrated in FIGURE 4, the gun being tilted slightly in order to show to better advantage its underside.

Referring first in detail to the embodiment of FIG- URES 1-3, the depicted spray gun has been designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, It will be noted that the spray gun includes a generally flat lid 12, suggestively of sheet metal or plastic, having its peripheral edge curving downwardly at 14. Contacting the underside of the lid 12 is a disc 16 provided with a downwardly projecting and outwardly flaring flange 18 terminating in a lower edge 20. From FIGURE 1, it can be discerned that the flange 18 is spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge 14 so that the lid 12 in effect overhangs somewhat the flange 18. Also, close inspection of this figure will reveal that the flange 18 is formed with a slight annular groove at 21 extending therearound.

While the lid 12 is of generally circular configuration, a flat ear 22 is formed during the fabrication of this mmeber, which incidentally can be made from sheet metal of sufficient thickness. To this ear 22 is secured a downwardly extending pin 24 having an enlarged head 26 at its lower extremity.

A resilient clip member constituting a curved wire spring 28 has a reversely bent loop 30 and 32 integral with its opposite ends. The loop 30 encircles the pin 24 to provide a hinged mounting of the wire 28 so that it can be pivoted between the solid and dotted positions of FIGURE 3.

Securing the flat portions of the members 12 and 16 together in a concentric manner is a threaded stud 34 having retaining nuts 36, 38 thereon. The stud 34 is of sufficient length so as to function as a mounting post for an air nozzle 40, the nozzle being provided with an internally threaded boss 42 for the reception of the upper end of the stud 34 therein. The nozzle 40 is in the form of a tube having a shutoff valve 44 of conventional construction attached to one end. The valve has a nipple 46 threadedly received therein to which can be connected a flexible hose 47 leading from a compressor or other source of compressed air (not shown).

The nozzle 40 is provided with a discharge tip 48. Passing through both the lid 12 and the disc 16 is a suction orliquid delivery tube 50, the tube 50 preferably being brazed to the disc 16. However, as is customary in aspirating devices, the upper end of the tube 50 is in a proximal relationship with the tip 48 of the nozzle 40 so that a reduced pressure is produced within the tube 50. Aligned vent openings 51 are provided in the members 12, 16 for admitting air as the liquid is withdrawn.

At this time, it can be specifically pointed out that the spray gun 10 is intended to have releasably attached thereto a disposable fibrous container 52 in the form of an ordinary beverage cup. Cups of this type are widely used for serving coffee and soft drinks.

Because the spray gun 10 is intended to be used with a container of the type alluded to, and inasmuch as these containers have a rim at 54, usually rolled to make drinking therefrom easier, the diameter of the lower edge 20 should be such that the flange 18 will fit snugly Within the upper end of the container 52. In other words, a slight amount of manual force should be applied in engaging the flange 18 with the containers rim 54. To assure retention of the container 52 to the lid 12, the spring wire 28 is then pivoted from the solid line disengaged position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the partially encircling dotted line position of this figure. The wire 28 is sufliciently stiff and the unflexed distance between the looped ends 30, 32 sufliciently small so that the wire firmly grips the container 52, actually distorting or de fleeting some of the paper material into the annular groove 21 in the flange 18. Therefore, the container 52 is securely, although releasably, held in place.

From the foregoing description, the use of my spray gun is obvious. For touch-up work, the needed quantity of paint would be poured into the container 52. With the container 52 held in ones hand or resting on a supporting surface, the nozzle 40 can be grasped and the flange 18 forced gently downwardly to effect the initial frictional fit. Then the spring wire 28 can be snapped into place, the loop 32 riding over a circumferential portion of the rim 54 or more precisely an arcuate section of the body of the container immediately subjacent thereto. With the container 52 so held, actuation of the valve 44 will admit air under pressure to the nozzle 40 which air exists via the tip 43 to create the vacuum or suction needed in the tube 50 to withdraw the paint or other liquid from the container 52, the liquid in its atomized form constituting the usable spray that can be readily directed where needed.

Turning now to a modified version of my spray gun, attention is directed to the embodiment denoted gener- 3 ally by the reference numeral 11! in FIGURES 4 and 5. A lid 112 is employed that is curved downwardly at 114, just as with the earlier-described lid 12. However, no ear 22 is employed, the lid 112 instead having downturned, diametrically opposed flanges 116 provided at their lower edges with inwardly directed inclined ribs 118 for gripping the rim 54 of the container 52. For ease of engaging the container 52, these ribs 113 have a tapered width so as to provide a progressively increasing wedging action as the lid 112 is turned in a clockwise direction relative to the container 52.

Consequently, when using the spray gun Elli), the lid 112 is placed over the container 52 and the lid then twisted so as to cause the ribs 118 to in effect progressively bite or dig into the rim 54, the portions of the rim 54 contacted by the ribs readily collapsing, or becoming compressed as this is done. Stated somewhat difierently, the ribs 118 act as teeth which grip the rim 54 to hold the container in place.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ararngernents and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. In combination with a disposable fibrous container of the type described having an integral rim extending about its upper edge, a spray gun comprising:

(a) a lid member for said container;

(b) downwardly projecting flange means on the underside of said lid member of a size to fit snugly within the rim of said container, said flange means flaring outwardly at its lower edge to provide an annular groove intermediate said lid member and the lower flange edge;

() additional means located outwardly of said flange means for pressing portions of said rim against the annular groove of said flange means to releasably hold said container beneath said lid member; and

(d) aspirating means carried by said lid member for withdrawing liquid from said container to form a spray.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said additional means includes: 7

(a) a resilient wire clip member for underlying a portion of said rim.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 1 in which said additional means includes:

(a) a pair of oppositely located flanges spaced outwardly, from said first-mentioned flange means and having inwardly bent inclined ribs for underlying a portion of said rim.

4. In combination with a disposable fibrous container of the type described having an integral rim extending about its upper edge, a spray gun comprising:

(a) a generally circular lid member provided with a downwardly and outwardly flaring flange spaced inwardly from the periphery thereof,

(b) the lower edge of said flange having a diameter such as to cause said flange to fit snugly Within the rim of said container;

(0) means located outwardly of said flange for causing said rim to be deflected inwardly about said lower edge thereof; and

(d) aspirating means carried by said lid member for withdrawing liquid from said container to form a spray.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4 in which:

(a) the peripheral edge of said lid member curves downwardly to overhang said container rim.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 4 in which said deflecting means includes:

(a) a curved spring wire having one end thereof pivotally attached to said lid member and a looped free end for engaging said container rim.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 4 in which said deflecting means includes:

(a) a pair of flanges projecting from diametrically opposite portions of the peripheral edge of said lid member, said flanges having inclined inwardly directed ribs for engaging said container rim.

8. The combination in accordance with claim 7 in which:

(a) said ribs are tapered so as to progressively wedge against said container as said lid member is twisted relative thereto.

7 9. In combination with a disposable fibrous container of the type described having an integral rim extending about its upper edge, a spray gun comprising:

(a) a lid member;

(b) a disc member having a flange provided with a downwardly and outwardly flaring edge thereon ot a size to fit snugly within the upper edge of said container;

(0) fastening means extending through both of said members having a threaded post portion;

(d) an air nozzle attached to said post portion;

(e) a suction tube extending through both of said members and having its upper end in a proximal relationship with said nozzle; and

(f) means for deflecting portions of said container against said flange to releasably attach said container to said flange and hence to said lid member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,837,844 Wyzenbeek Dec. 22, 1931 1,843,269 Capser Feb. 2, 1932 2,263,842 Gross Nov. 25, 1941 2,263,843 Gross Nov. 25, 1941 2,277,824 Franson Mar. 31, 1942 2,676,844 Paasche Apr. 27, 1954 2,714,469 Carlson Aug. 2, 1955 2,833,594 Palm May 6, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 295,206 Italy Apr. 15, 1932 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A DISPOSABLE FIBROUS CONTAINER OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED HAVING AN INTEGRAL RIM EXTENDING ABOUT ITS UPPER EDGE, A SPRAY GUN COMPRISING. (A) A LID MEMBER FOR SAID CONTAINER; (B) DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE MEANS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID LID MEMBER OF A SIZE TO FIT SNUGLY WITHIN THE RIM OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID FLANGE MEANS FLARING OUTWARDLY AT ITS LOWER EDGE TO PROVIDE AN ANNULAR GROOVE INTERMEDIATE SAID LID MEMBER AND THE LOWER FLANGE EDGE; (C) ADDITIONAL MEANS LOCATED OUTWARDLY OF SAID FLANGE MEANS FOR PRESSING PORTIONS OF SAID RIM AGAINST THE ANNULAR GROOVE OF SAID FLANGE MEANS TO RELEASABLY HOLD SAID CONTAINER BENEATH SAID LID MEMBER; AND (D) ASPIRATING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID LID MEMBER FOR WITHDRAWING LIQUID FROM SAID CONTAINER TO FORM A SPRAY. 